Photo By: Jacob Lips
Everglades is synonymous with Florida, so it is no surprise that it has its park. The Everglades National Park protects 20% of the Everglades in Florida. The park is considered the largest tropical wilderness in America.
The Everglades National Park is also the third-largest park in the U.S., visited by around a million people every year. The park is around 1.5 million acres.
History
According to geological studies, Florida was once part of the African region of the supercontinent Gondwana, over 200 million years ago. Eventually, Florida separated and had since developed a consistently flat surface. The Everglades stand on limestone.
South Florida was first inhabited by humans around 10,000 years ago. Two tribes lived in the area: Tequesta and Calusa. The Everglades was their natural boundary. The area is, of course, rich in wetland resources, which means a lot of plant and animal assets. So the diet of locals consists of fish, shellfish, mammals and wild plants. But since they only have soft limestone as a resource for other things, their tools are mostly made out of animal teeth.
The Spanish invaded the region in the late 18th century, which compelled the Tequesta and Calusa tribes to relocate, at the onset of the 19th Century. The Americans started settling in the area in the late 1800s.
It wasn’t until May 30, 1934, that the Everglades National Park was officially a national park. In 1976, UNESCO declared the Everglades & Dry Tortugas Biosphere Reserve. The park became a World Heritage Site in 1979. In 1987, the Ramsar Convention listed the park as one of the Wetlands of International Importance.
Photo By: Jacob Lips
Places to go
Shark Valley
There are so many things to do and tours to participate in at the Everglades, with its rich wetlands resources. One of the most famous spots among tourists is Shark Valley. It is a long drive going there, though, so some will opt for the tram tour. This is the perfect area to spot animals like turtles, birds, and of course: alligators! It wouldn’t be the Everglades without alligators.
There are also bikes available for rent. There is a 7.5-mile bike trail, leading to an elevated observation deck.
Flamingo Adventures
Visitors may enjoy boat tours or camping in the area—or both by staying at a houseboat, which docks at the Flamingo Marina. The boat tours will explore the Florida backcountry. The tour goes through Buttonwood Canal, Coot Bay, Tarpon Creek, and Whitewater Bay—all these provide a wonderful vista of the national park.
Lucky visitors may see manatees. But it is almost a guarantee that they will see the American crocodile somewhere. For those who want to work for their view, kayaks are also available.
Gator Grill
No one goes to the Everglades without seeing an alligator and eating one! So visitors should stop at the Gator Grill for some of Florida’s favorite delicacies. The restaurant is just a short drive from the park’s entrance. Among the favorites in this resto are the gator basket and gator tacos. Throw in some frog legs, too.
Anhinga Trail
It is not much of a trek, really, it is less than a mile of paved boardwalk, which gives the tourists a chance to walk through a section of the wetlands. One will have a view of green mangroves and a lot of water lilies. Alligators are also popular in the area, as well as the bird called anhinga.
Everglades Safari Park
This is the best tour for those who have children with them. This is no longer part of the management of the National Park Service, but this private company provides an airboat tour. Not only will visitors see a lot of alligators and other exotic animals and plants, but they will also learn about them as the tour guide will also provide background information.
Photo By: Jacob Lips
Flora and fauna
The Everglades is not just about the alligator, there are so many more species of animals living in this national park. The wetlands are a paradise for amphibians like frogs. The national park has at least 15 species of frogs and toads.
There are also around 360 species of birds found in the park.
Among the most famous wading birds in the Everglades, is the white ibis. But one may also spot bitterns, egrets, herons, spoonbills, and wood storks. There are also hundreds of species of non-wading birds in the park.
As for the aquatic animals, there are about 300 species of fish in the Everglades. Fishing is also a popular activity in the park.
As for mammals, there are around 40 species found in the area. Just like most parks, deer also call the Everglades home. Some of the most exciting sightings at the park are those of the Florida panther, Everglades mink, coati, gray fox, pilot whale, bottlenose dolphin, bats, armadillo, and manatee.
Plantlife is also very rich at the Everglades with so many different species of bromeliads, cacti and succulents, grasses, lichens, marine plants, orchids and wildflowers providing beauty and colors all around the park.
Photo By: Jacob Lips